GLCC Journalist of the Year award

Tuesday 5th July 2016

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is proud to be a member of the Global Lung Cancer Coalition, a worldwide alliance of 35 non-government organisations, from 24 countries, representing patients, carers and healthcare professionals. In the UK, the GLCC is represented by the British Lung Foundation, National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Each year, the members of the GLCC make an award for Excellence in Journalism on the subject of lung cancer in their own country.

We are delighted to announce that the 2015 GLCC UK Award goes to Victoria Herd, from Potters Bar in Hertfordshire. Victoria was nominated for this award for her personal courage and dedication in setting up a unique awareness campaign in memory of her mother, Janice Leverett, who died from lung cancer in March 2014.

Janice always ensured she faced the world armed with her trademark red lipstick – and it was this trademark image that inspired Victoria to develop her ‘Red Lipstick Selfie’ social media campaign. Through this hugely successful digital campaign, Victoria has ensured her mother’s story, and the lung cancer awareness message, has now reached millions of people across the globe.

Presenting the award on behalf of the UK GLCC member organisations, Paula Chadwick, Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: “Some may argue that Victoria’s campaign is not journalism in its most traditional sense – but we say, on the contrary, she has simply used the most modern and effective way of telling a very human story and getting an absolutely vital message out there to the world at large.

“That makes sense to us, and we are proud and delighted to make the award for 2015 to Victoria, with our deepest thanks and our warmest congratulations”.

Victoria accepted her award at the annual Cut Films Awards ceremony at BAFTA, Piccadilly, London. Cut Films, a charity set up to help educate young people about the dangers of tobacco products, is now part of Roy Castle Lung Foundation, and forms the charity’s Education and Prevention directorate.